NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers will battle this coming Sunday afternoon in a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game. There has been plenty of trash-taking between the two teams and this will easily be the matchup of the week. Will the 49ers avenge their loss or will the Eagles continue to prove they are the best in the NFC?
It’s time to put to bed the Brock Purdy was injured talk. It’s time to put to bed everything surrounding that last game. This is a new season and both teams are relatively healthy going in (minus Dallas Goedert). The 49ers are coming off a Bye Week well-rested and the Eagles are coming off an overtime win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Who will come out on top?
Here are 3 keys to victory for the Philadelphia Eagles against the San Francisco 49ers.
Just One Game
Forget what the analysts are saying. This is just one game. The only thing on the line here is a win or a loss. Whoever loses gets to play next week the same as the winner. The Eagles have been even-keeled all season and now is not the time to divert from that. It’s not them looking for revenge, they made their statement in the NFC Championship Game.
There is no need for extra trash-talking. Continue to let the 49ers stir the pot. They want what the Eagles have and that’s to be labeled as the best team in the NFC. This game is all about focus. With a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win (and some help), that’s where the player’s heads should be. Get the win, move to 11-1, and put yourself in a position to clinch a spot before any other team does.
Philadelphia Eagles Must Protect Jalen Hurts
The Buddy Ryan Body Bag era is over. So is the New Orleans Saints Bounty scandal. I don’t think another player goes into a game with ill intent to harm another player. However, the Eagles must be extra careful when it comes to Jalen Hurts.
The last time these two teams played, the Eagles knocked out both QBs for the 49ers. Do you really think that’s not been talked about in both locker rooms? Nothing was malicious but you could sense the tension building for this game ever since the schedule was announced. Hell, this matchup might be bigger than the Eagles and Chiefs just 2 weeks ago.
The San Francisco 49ers will be pumped and they may want the Eagles to feel the pain they felt when they had to watch their signal callers go down to injuries in the title game. The Offensive line of Philadelphia will have to be at its best with the 49ers pass rush expected to be on 100 from the start.
Use Julio Jones
While Dallas Goedert is out, the Eagles are missing a huge part of their offense. The ground game is struggling just a bit but Brian Johnson has to find a way to get Julio the ball more. The Eagles have secondary TE’s but Jones is a weapon they have yet to unleash.
Since his arrival in Philly, Jones has 5 catches for 16 yards and 1 TD. Placing him in the inside as Godert was would create mismatches the 49ers won’t be prepared for. With AJ Bown and DeVonta Smith on the outside, Jones could use his 6-3 frame in the middle of the field.
While there has been talk of Goedert coming back for this game, to continue to ignore the experience that Jones has is disrespectful to his resume. This is the game to show why Howie Roseman signed him. Let Jones loose.
